Method and apparatus for manufacturing sealed packets of cigarettes

ABSTRACT

In method of manufacturing sealed packets ( 102 ) of cigarettes, each displaying a revenue stamp ( 3 ) and a coupon ( 4 ) affixed to the printed faces, the packets ( 2   a ) emerge from a packaging machine ( 5 ) with the external paper or cardboard surface ( 10 ) still to be overwrapped and are conveyed singly and in succession from the packaging machine ( 5 ) to a cellophaner ( 6 ), through the agency of a transfer unit ( 107 ), following a path equipped with stations at which a revenue stamp ( 3 ) and a coupon ( 4 ) are applied to the outer surface ( 10 ) of each one; on reaching cellophaner ( 6 ), each packet ( 2   a ) is enveloped in a relative sheet ( 15 ) of transparent overwrapping material, and the folds of the sheet are secured to complete the sealed packet ( 102 ) of cigarettes.

This application is the international application PCT/IB99/01904 filedNov. 30, 1999 which designate the U.S.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing packets ofcigarettes.

In particular, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing sealedpackets of cigarettes.

Generally considered, a packet of cigarettes consists in an orderedgroup of cigarettes enveloped by a first sheet of pliable wrappingmaterial, normally metal foil paper, and, in the case of the soft typepacket, a second sheet of pliable wrapping material wrapped around thefirst sheet. Alternatively, the second sheet of wrapping material mayconsist in a diecut blank of card or paperboard material folded aroundthe first sheet in such a way as to fashion a packet of the rigid typewith a hinged lid. The packet of cigarettes thus assembled, whether ofthe soft type or the rigid type having a hinged lid, is envelopedfurther in a protective overwrapping of transparent plastic filmmaterial, most typically polypropylene, folded and heat-sealed in such away as to create a substantially airtight enclosure.

BACKGROUND ART

The systems employed in manufacturing packets of cigarettes includepackaging machines equipped with infeed stations supplying the wrappingmaterials and stations at which the wrappings materials are foldedaround the successive groups of cigarettes, also cellophaners equippedwith infeed stations supplying the sheets of transparent overwrappingmaterial, stations at which the sheets are folded around the packets andstations at which the folded overwrapping sheets are heat-sealed.

In addition to the operations described thus far, it is the practice incertain countries to affix a revenue stamp to each packet before thesheet of overwrapping material is applied. The revenue stamp indicatesthat an excise duty is payable on the contents of the packet in thecountry of sale, and remains visible through the sheet of transparentoverwrapping material.

It is also customary in some countries for each packet to be accompaniedby a coupon, typically a slip or a fan-folded leaf of paper bearingprinted matter such as advertising messages or collectable figures. Suchcoupons are placed normally between the first sheet of wrapping materialand the second sheet or blank. The practice of placing the coupondirectly in contact with the first wrapping sheet has proved to bedeleterious in that the aroma of the tobacco tends to be adulterated byodours from the inks used in printing the coupons.

Moreover, the systems used to manufacture packets with both revenuestamps and coupons are relatively complex inasmuch as provision must bemade for a coupon dispensing station between the stations at which thefirst and second wrappings are applied. With the introduction of devicesfor application of the coupon, the aforementioned packaging machinesbecome more complicated, the wrapping operations are slowed down, andthe hourly output capacity of the system as a whole is consequentlyreduced.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method formanufacturing sealed packets of cigarettes with revenue stamps andcoupons that will be unaffected by the drawbacks described above.

In particular, the object of the invention is to provide a method formanufacturing sealed packets of cigarettes, each with a revenue stampand a coupon, such as can be implemented employing systems of notablysimple design and high output capacity.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A method for manufacturing sealed packets of cigarettes with revenuestamps and coupons, according to the present invention, comprises thesteps of fashioning packets of cigarettes, in a packaging machine, eachdelimited by an outer surface that consists of a wrapping material;conveying the packets of cigarettes from the packaging machine to acellophaner through the agency of transfer means; enveloping each packetof cigarettes in a transparent overwrapping material and securing thematerial to complete the sealed packet, and the further steps ofapplying a respective revenue stamp and applying a respective coupon tothe outer surface of each packet during the step of conveying thepackets of cigarettes from the packaging machine to the cellophaner.

The present invention also relates to a system for the manufacture ofsealed packets.

A system according to the present invention for manufacturing sealedpackets of cigarettes with revenue stamps and coupons is of the typecomprising a packaging machine, on which to fashion packets ofcigarettes delimited by an outer surface consisting of a wrappingmaterial; a cellophaner, by which a transparent overwrapping material isfolded around each packet of cigarettes and secured in such a way as tocomplete the sealed packet; transfer means, by which the packets ofcigarettes are conveyed from the packaging machine to the cellophaner;also a device by which revenue stamps are applied to the packets ofcigarettes; and a device by which coupons are applied to the packets ofcigarettes, wherein the devices for applying the revenue stamps andapplying the coupons are located along the transfer means.

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, withthe aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for implementation of the manufacturingmethod according to the present invention, viewed schematically in aside elevation with parts omitted for clarity;

FIGS. 2a and 2 b are two different perspective views of a packet ofcigarettes manufactured employing the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the system in FIG. 1, illustratedschematically and with parts omitted for clarity;

FIG. 4 illustrates a detail of the system in FIG. 1, viewedschematically in a side elevation with parts omitted for clarity;

FIG. 5 shows the system of FIG. 1 in an alternative is solution, viewedschematically in a side elevation with parts omitted for clarity andillustrating a given moment during operation;

FIG. 6 illustrates a detail of the system in FIG. 5, viewedschematically in a side elevation with parts omitted for clarity andillustrating a successive moment during operation.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, 101 denotes a system, in its entirety, formanufacturing sealed packets of cigarettes each within a respectiverevenue stamp 3 and respective coupon 4 or advertising leaflet.

The system 101 comprises a packaging machine 5 and a cellophaner 6interconnected by way of a transfer unit 107, and, installed along thetransfer unit, a device 8 for applying the stamps 3 and a device 9 forapplying the coupons 4.

As discernible from FIGS. 2a and 2 b, each sealed packet 102 ofcigarettes comprises a packet proper, denoted 2 a, which appearsparallelepiped in shape and is delimited by an outer surface 10consisting of an opaque wrapping material. More exactly, the outersurface 10 presents two mutually opposed and parallel main faces 11, twomutually opposed and parallel flank faces 12, and two mutually opposedand parallel end faces 13.

The packet 2 a illustrated is of the rigid type with a hinged lid,comprising a container 14 a and a lid 14 b, both of cupped embodiment,which are connected together pivotably and rotatable thus one relativeto another between a position (not illustrated) in which the packet 2 ais open and a position in which the packet is closed (as in FIGS. 2a and2 b). More precisely, the container 14 a and lid 14 b are joined along ahinge crease 14 c extending across the rear main face 11 near to one ofthe two end faces 13 and orthogonally to the two flank faces 12.

The single revenue stamp 3 appears rectangular and is affixed to therespective packet 2 a with the two longer edges disposed parallel to andsubstantially equidistant from the hinge 14 c.

The single coupon 4 also presents a substantially rectangular appearanceand is applied to the front main face 11 of the respective packet 2 a,i.e. to the main face 11 remote from the face 11 occupied by the revenuestamp 3. In particular, the coupon 4 is positioned on the front mainface 11 with its endmost edges parallel to the corresponding endmostedges of the face 11. The transverse dimensions of the single coupon 4are substantially the same as the transverse dimensions of the face 11so that the face remains concealed, apart from a peripheral portion 11 aof predetermined width.

Finally, each sealed packet 102 of cigarettes also comprises a sheet 15of transparent overwrapping material which envelops the packet 2 a andclings to the surface 10, the stamp 3 and the coupon 4.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the transfer unit 107 comprises a firstconveyor device 116 connected to an outfeed 117 (FIG. 3) of thepackaging machine 5, and a second conveyor device 118 interconnecting anoutfeed 119 of the first conveyor device 116 and an infeed 120 (FIG. 1)of the cellophaner 6.

As discernible in FIG. 3, packets 2 a are carried by the first conveyordevice 116 from the outfeed 117 of the packaging machine 5 to theoutfeed 119 of the selfsame device 116, along a substantially horizontalconveying path A1.

The device 116 in question comprises a conveyor 121 consisting of a belt122 looped around pulleys (one only of which is visible in FIGS. 1 and3) rotatable continuously about respective horizontal axes and combiningthus with the belt 122 to establish a top conveying branch 123. Thebranch 123 coincides with an initial rectilinear and horizontal sectionT1 of the conveying path A1 along which the packets 2 a advance in afeed direction F1 extending at right angles to their end faces 13, eachwith the front main face 11 directed downwards and resting on the belt122.

The device 116 further comprises a mechanism 124 located at a runout end125 of the conveyor 121, by which the packets 2 a are picked up andtransferred. The function of the mechanism 124 is to take up the packets2 a singly and in succession from the runout end 125 and, maintainingtheir position in space, transfer them along a curved terminal sectionT2 of the path A1 (FIG. 3) toward the outfeed 119.

The pickup and transfer mechanism 124 illustrated is of the typedisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,163 and therefore conventional inembodiment, comprising a pickup and transfer head 126 rotatablecontinuously in an anticlockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 3, about avertical axis denoted 127. The head 126 is as described and illustratedin U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,163 and affords a plurality of gripper elements126 a (FIG. 1) equispaced about the axis 127 and designed each toadvance one packet 2 a along the terminal section T2 toward the outfeed119 (see FIG. 1).

The second conveyor device 118 comprises a belt 128 looped aroundpulleys 129, 130, 131 and 132 that are rotatable continuously aboutcorresponding horizontal and mutually parallel axes 129 a, 130 a, 131 aand 132 a and combine thus with the belt 128 to create a top conveyingbranch 133. The branch 133 extends along a predetermined conveying pathA2 and serves to advance the packets 2 a in a direction at right anglesto their flank faces 12, each with the front main face 11 directeddownwards and resting on the belt 126. More exactly, the path A2 extendsthrough the outfeed 119 in a direction normal to the initial section T1and substantially tangential to the terminal section T2 at the outfeed119.

As discernible from FIG. 1, the branch 133 extends between the pulleysdenoted 129 and 131, passing over the pulley denoted 130 which ispositioned to coincide with the outfeed 119. Two pulleys 130 and 131 aredisposed at the same height and combine to establish a horizontalportion 134 of the conveying branch 133 that connects with the infeed120 of the cellophaner 6 at a point coinciding with the pulley denoted131, whilst the pulley denoted 129 is set at a height lower than that ofthe intermediate pulley 130 and combines with this same pulley to createan ascending portion 135 of the branch 133 extending along a feeddirection denoted F2.

The ascending portion 135 of the branch 133 will be seen to coincidewith a section of the conveying path A2 denoted T3 that converges withthe curved terminal section T2 at the outfeed 119 along theaforementioned feed direction F2.

In like manner, the horizontal portion 134 of the branch 133 coincideswith a section T4 of the path onto which the terminal section T2converges at the outfeed 119 along the same feed direction F2.

The belt 128 presents a succession of pockets 136 distributed uniformlyalong its length at a given pitch k1. Each pocket 136 is compassed inthe conveying direction of the belt 128 by a pair of relative slats 137disposed transversely to the developable longitudinal axis of the loopand spaced apart at distance greater than that which separates the flankfaces 12 of the packet 2 a.

The device 9 for applying coupons 4 comprises a feed drum 138 by whicheach coupon 4 is directed into a respective pocket 136 of the belt 128at a feed station 139 located along the section of the conveying path A2denoted T3. The feed drum 138 is located above the conveying branch 133,rotatable anticlockwise (as viewed in FIG. 1) about a relative axis 138a parallel to the axes 129 a, 130 a, 131 a and 132 a of the pulleys, andtangential to a transfer drum 140 rotatable clockwise (as viewed inFIG. 1) about an axis 140 a parallel to the axis 138 a of the feed drum138 and occupying a position of close proximity to a device 141 by whichthe coupons are extracted from a magazine 142. The coupons 4 areretained pneumatically by the drums 138 and 140 on respectivecylindrical surfaces of revolution 143 and 144 each affording aplurality of suction ports (not illustrated) uniformly distributed aboutthe corresponding axis 138 a and 140 a of rotation and connecting (in aconventional manner not indicated) to a source of negative pressure(conventional in embodiment and not indicated).

The device 9 further comprises a spray type gum dispenser 145 ofconventional embodiment positioned at a gumming station 146 locatedalong the relative section T3 of the path A2, interposed between thefeed station 139 and the outfeed 119, by which an adhesive substance isapplied directly to each of the coupons 4 in turn.

The single coupons 4 are retained in a stable and predetermined positionwithin the corresponding pockets 136 of the belt by a suction device 147extending between the feed station 139 and the outfeed 119. Asdiscernable to advantage in FIG. 4, the suction device 147 comprises amanifold 148 connected to a source of negative pressure not illustratedin the drawings, being conventional in embodiment. The manifold 148 ispositioned below the ascending portion 135 of the belt 128, the belt inturn affording a plurality of through holes (not illustrated) by whichthe pockets 136 are caused to communicate with the manifold 148 as theyadvance between the feed station 139 and the outfeed 119. In particular,each pocket 136 presents a lowered portion coinciding with the bottomface 149 and establishing a relative suction port 150, which isproportioned to accommodate a respective coupon 4 and located near tothe slat 137 located across the rear of the pocket 136, considered inrelation to the feed direction F2.

The device 8 for applying the stamps 3 comprises an applicator drum 151by which the single stamp 3 is affixed to the rear main face 11 of therespective packet 2 a at a station 152 located on the section denotedT4. The drum 151 occupies a position above the conveying branch 133,rotatable anticlockwise (as viewed in FIG. 1) about an axis 151 aparallel to the axes 129 a, 130 a, 131 a and 132 a of the pulleys, andsubstantially tangential to a transfer drum 153 rotatable clockwise (asviewed in FIG. 1) about a relative axis 153 a parallel to the axis 151 aof the applicator drum 151, positioned to coincide with a device 154 bywhich the stamps 3 are extracted from a magazine 155. The single stamps3 are retained by the drums 151 and 153 pneumatically on respectivecylindrical surfaces of revolution 156 and 157 each with a plurality ofsuction ports (not illustrated) uniformly distributed about the relativeaxis 151 a and 153 a of rotation and connected (in conventional manner,not illustrated) to a source of negative pressure (conventional, and notillustrated).

The device 8 further comprises a spray type gum dispenser 158 ofconventional embodiment positioned at a gumming station 159 locatedalong the relative section T4 of the path and preceding the affixingstation 152 in the conveying direction F2, by which an adhesivesubstance is applied directly to each packet 2 a in turn.

The cellophaner 6 comprises a wrapping wheel 160 rotatable anticlockwise(as viewed in FIG. 1) about an axis 160 a parallel to the axes 129 a,130 a, 131 a and 132 a of the pulleys; the wheel 160 presents aplurality of peripheral pockets 161 each exhibiting two mutually opposedand parallel side walls 162 and a bottom wall 163, and proportioned toadmit a respective packet 2 a, 102 of cigarettes.

The cellophaner 6 also comprises a support 164 for rolls 165 ofcontinuous strip transparent wrapping material 166, and a relativedecoiling and cutting device 167 by which single wrapping sheets 15 areseparated from the strip 166 in conventional manner (not illustrated).

The cellophaner 6 further comprises a device 168 by which the sheets 15are supplied to the infeed 120 and positioned in such a way that eachone will be intercepted by a corresponding packet 2 a prior to enteringthe relative pocket 161. Accordingly, the infeed 120 of the cellophaner6 coincides with a folding station 169 at which each single sheet 15 isbent to a U profile over one flank face 12 and over the two main faces11 of a relative packet 2 a.

Finally, the cellophaner 6 comprises a succession of additional foldingstations (conventional and therefore not illustrated) at which the flapsof the sheets 15 are flattened, and a succession of stations (likewiseconventional and therefore not illustrated) at which the flaps are heatsealed to complete the manufacture of the sealed packets 102.

In operation of the system 101, packets 2 a emerge from the outfeed 117of the packaging machine 5 in a continuous single file 170 and arecarried along the initial section T1 of the conveying path A1 by therelative conveyor 121, advancing continuously and in close order, eachpositioned with the main front face 11 directed downwards and resting onthe conveying branch 123 of the relative belt 122.

As each packet 2 a arrives at the runout end 125 of the conveyor 121, itis taken up by the pickup and transfer mechanism 124 and carriedcontinuously by a respective gripper element 126 a along the curvedsection T2 of the path A1 toward the outfeed 119 of the first conveyordevice 116, then released into a pocket 136 of the second conveyordevice 118 with the front face 11 directed downwards and resting on therelative conveying branch 133.

The conveyor device 118 and the pickup and transfer mechanism 124 aresynchronized in operation so that each successive pocket 136 reaches theoutfeed 119 simultaneously with a respective packet 2 a.

On arrival at the outfeed 119, the position of the packet 2 a relativeto the conveying branch 133 is promptly stabilized by interaction withthe rear slat 137 of the pocket 136 and with a pair of guide rails 171flanking the horizontal portion 134 of the branch 133 on either side andextending forward along the feed direction F2 from the outfeed 119 ofthe first conveyor device 116.

As the conveying branch 133 advances through the feed station 139, acoupon 4 is released from the drum 138 into the suction port 150afforded by each pocket 136.

More exactly, the coupons 4 are removed singly and in succession by theextraction device 141 from an opening at the bottom of the magazine 142,in which they are stacked, and offered each in turn to the cylindricalsurface 144 of the transfer drum 140. The coupon 4 is then taken up fromthe device 141 onto the drum 140 by means of the suction ports (notillustrated), transferred to the suction ports (not illustrated) of thefeed drum 138, and finally released onto the suction port 150 of arespective pocket 136.

The suction ports (not illustrated) of the feed drum 138 are spacedapart at the same pitch k1 as the pockets 136 and activatedsynchronously with the belt 128, in such a way that each coupon 4 isreleased directly onto a relative port 150.

Thereafter, as the ports 150 advance through the gumming station 146,the upwardly directed face of each respective coupon 4 receives a givenquantity of the adhesive substance from the dispenser 145.

The sections T2 and T3 of the conveying paths A1 and A2 converge towardthe outfeed 119 in such a way that each coupon 4 and the respectivepacket 2 a are brought into contact only after the packet has assumed astable transverse position internally of the pocket 136, therebyprecluding the risk that the coupon 4 could stick to the packetincorrectly positioned.

The single packets 2 a with the associated coupons 4 are then advancedby the conveying branch 133 along the section denoted T4 through thesecond gumming station. 159 and thereafter through the station 152 atwhich a revenue stamp 3 is affixed to each one by the applicator drum151.

More exactly, the stamps 3 are removed singly and in succession by theextraction device 154 from an opening at the bottom of the magazine 155,in which they are stacked, and offered each in turn to the cylindricalsurface 157 of the transfer drum 153. The stamp 3 is then taken up fromthe device 154 onto the drum 153 by means of the suction ports (notillustrated), transferred to the suction ports (not illustrated) of theapplicator drum 151, and finally affixed to the rear main face 11 of therelative packet 2 a along the line of the hinge 14 c.

The suction ports (not indicated) of the applicator drum 151 are spacedapart at the same pitch k1 as the pockets 136 and activatedsynchronously with the belt 128, n such a way that each stamp 3 isaffixed directly to a relative packet 2 a.

Once beyond the station 152, the packets 2 a advance toward the infeed120 of the cellophaner 6, their movement timed with that of the pockets161 indexed by the wrapping wheel 160.

A sheet 15 of wrapping material is supplied to the folding station 169,i.e. directed into the area between the horizontal portion 134 of theconveying branch 133 and the periphery of the wheel 160, and retained ina position disposed transversely to the feed direction F2. The wheel 160is indexed in such way that each successive pocket 161 will pause inalignment with the station 169. During each pause, a packet 2 a completewith stamp 3 and coupon 4 is directed into the waiting pocket 161.Moving toward the wheel, the packet 2 a impinges on the sheet 15 ofwrapping material, which is thus forced into the pocket 161 and bentinitially to a U profile around the packet. Thereafter, the packet 2 ais carried by the wheel 160 together with the relative sheet 15 inconventional manner through a series of folding stations (notillustrated), then through a series of sealing stations (notillustrated), from which the sealed packet 102 of cigarettes willultimately emerge as illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2 b.

FIG. 5 illustrates a system 172 designed similarly to manufacture sealedpackets 102 of cigarettes as produced with the system 101 describedpreviously. This system 172 is a variation in embodiment of the system101 described thus far, and accordingly the same reference numbers willcontinue to be used in the description wherever feasible.

In this system 172, the second conveyor device 118 illustrated in FIG. 1is replaced by a conveyor device 173 of different embodiment thatextends between the outfeed 119 of the first device 116 and the infeed120 of the cellophaner 6.

The device 173 comprises a belt 174 looped over pulleys 175, 176, and177 rotatable continuously about respective axes 175 a, 176 a and 177 alying parallel one with another and with the axis 160 a of the wheel160, and combining to create an upwardly directed horizontal conveyingbranch 178 in the belt 174. The conveying branch 178 extends along apredetermined conveying path A2 and serves to carry the packets 2 aalong a direction normal to their flank faces 12, each with the frontmain face 11 directed downwards and resting on the belt 174. Moreexactly, the conveying path A2 interconnects the outfeed 119 of thefirst conveyor device 116 and the infeed 120 of the cellophaner 6,running in a predetermined feed direction F2 followed by the conveyingbranch 178, which extends perpendicular to the initial section T1 (notshown in FIG. 5) and substantially tangential to the terminal section T2(likewise not shown in FIG. 5) at the outfeed 119 of the first device116.

The belt 174 presents a succession of pockets 179 distributed uniformlyalong its length at a given pitch denoted k2. Each pocket 179 iscompassed in the conveying direction of the belt 174 by a pair ofrespective slats 180 disposed transversely to the developablelongitudinal axis of the loop and spaced apart at distance greater thanthat which separates the flank faces 12 of the packet 2 a.

The device 9 which applies the coupons 4 comprises a wheel 181 withpockets, positioned above the conveying branch 178 beyond the outfeed119 of the first conveyor device 116, considered in the feed directionF2, and is rotatable about an axis 181 a parallel to the axes 175 a 176a and 177 a of the pulleys. The wheel 181 in the example illustratedpresents three pockets 182, uniformly distributed about its periphery,and is power driven in such a manner that the pockets 182 will rotateabout the axis 181 a in an anticlockwise direction F3, as viewed in FIG.5, describing a circular path A3 and revolving tangentially to the pathdenoted A2 at a station 183 where the packets 2 a are first picked upfrom the conveying path A2 and then released back onto the selfsame pathA2.

Each pocket 182 presents two mutually opposed and parallel sides 184 anda bottom 185 set at right angles to the sides 184, and is proportionedto accommodate a respective packet 2 a disposed with the rear main face11 offered to the bottom 185 and the flank faces 12 offered to the sides184. The single pockets 182 are connected to a source of negativepressure (conventional in embodiment and therefore not illustrated) insuch a manner that the packet 2 a can be retained pneumatically whilepassing along the circular path A3.

The device 9 further comprises a drum 186 by which the coupons 4 areapplied each to the front main face 11 of a respective packet 2 a at astation 187 located along the circular path A3. The drum 186 isrotatable (clockwise as viewed in FIG. 5) about an axis 186 a extendingparallel to the axis 181 a of the wheel 181 and revolves substantiallytangential to a transfer drum 188 rotatable anticlockwise (as viewed inFIG. 5) about an axis 188 a parallel to the axis 186 a of the applicatordrum 186, in a position close to a device 189 by which the coupons 4 areextracted from a magazine 190. The coupons 4 are retained pneumaticallyby the drums 186 and 188 on respective cylindrical surfaces ofrevolution 191 and 192 each affording a plurality of suction ports (notillustrated) uniformly distributed about the axis 186 a and 188 a ofrotation and connected (in a conventional manner not illustrated) to asource of negative pressure (conventional in embodiment and notillustrated).

The device 9 further comprises a spray type gum dispenser 193 ofconventional embodiment positioned at a gumming station 194 locatedalong the circular path A3 in the feed direction F3 between the pickupstation 183 and the affixing station 187, by which an adhesive substanceis applied directly to the front main face 11 of each packet 2 a.

The system 172 of FIG. 5 also comprises a device 8 for affixing revenuestamps 3, located beyond the coupon device 9 relative to the feeddirection F2 and identical to that already described for the system 101of FIG. 1.

In operation of the system 172, packets 2 a emerging from the outfeed117 of the packaging machine 5 are taken toward the outfeed 119 of thefirst conveyor device 116 in the manner already described for the system101 of FIG. 1.

On reaching the outfeed 119, each packet 2 a in turn is released into acorresponding pocket 179 of the second conveyor device 173 with thefront face 11 directed downwards and resting on the conveying branch 178of the relative belt 174.

The operating cycles of the conveyor device 173 and the pickup andtransfer mechanism 124 are timed so that the pockets 179 arrive at theoutfeed 119 of the first device simultaneously with the packets 2 a butat twice the frequency. In other words, the packets 2 a are placed onthe conveying branch 178 spaced apart at a pitch k3 twice the pitch k2of the pockets 179.

As a packet 2 a reaches the pickup station 183, it is lifted from theconveying path A2 by a relative pocket 182 of the wheel 181.

Retained by suction internally of the pocket 182 with the rear main face11 against the bottom 185, the packet 2 a is made to advance along thecircular path A3 in the direction denoted F3.

The packet 2 a is directed in succession through the gumming station194, where the adhesive substance is applied by the dispenser 193 to thefront main face 11, and the application station 187 where a coupon 4 isreleased onto the gummed face 11 by the applicator drum 186.

The single coupon 4 is supplied to the station 187 in identical fashionto that described previously for the system 101 of FIG. 1. That is tosay, the coupons 4 are removed singly and in succession by theextraction device 189 from an opening at the bottom of the magazine 190,internally of which they are stacked, and offered each in turn to thecylindrical surface 192 of the transfer drum 188. The coupon 4 is thentaken up from the device 189 onto the drum 188 by means of the suctionports (not illustrated), transferred to the suction ports (notillustrated) of the feed drum 186, and finally released to theapplication station 187 and fixed to the packet 2 a.

The suction ports (not illustrated) of the feed drum 186 are spacedapart at the same pitch k3 as that of the packets 2 a and activatedsynchronously with the passage of the pockets 179, in such a way thateach coupon 4 is applied to the front main face 11 of a relative packet2 a.

Having passed through the application station 187 the packet 2 aadvances further along the circular path A3 to the point ultimately ofregaining the pickup station 183, where it is released back onto theconveyor device 173 with the coupon interposed between the front mainface 11 and the conveying branch 178.

The pockets 182 of the wheel 181 are distributed around the periphery atthe same pitch k32 as that of the pockets 179 afforded by the belt 174,and advanced along the circular path A3 timed in such a way that eachpasses through the pickup station 183 simultaneously with one of thepockets 179. During the interval of time taken for a packet 2 a to coverthe entire circular path A3 starting and finishing at the pickup station183, the conveying branch 178 of the belt 174 will direct three pockets179 along the relative path A2 and in the corresponding feed directionF2, thus positioning an empty pocket 179 at the station 183 as theaforementioned interval of time is completed. In short, as the pockets179 advance through the pickup station 183, those that are empty willreceive a packet 2 a with a coupon 4 newly attached, whilst those thatare occupied will be emptied as the relative packets 2 a are divertedonto the circular path A3.

FIG. 6 illustrates the device 9 for applying the coupons.4 at a momentin the operating cycle soon after that illustrated in FIG. 5. Moreexactly, the packet 2 a that occupies the gumming station 194 in FIG. 6is the same packet that occupies the pickup station 183 in FIG. 5,whilst the packet occupying the pickup station 183 in FIG. 6 is thepacket 2 a occupying the application station 187 in FIG. 5.

The single packets 2 a with the associated coupons.4 are advanced by theconveying branch 178 along the relative path A2 through the gummingstation 159 and then through the station 152 at which a revenue stamp 3is affixed to each one by the applicator drum 151, in the same manner asdescribed already for the system 101 of FIG. 1.

Once beyond the station 152, the packets 2 a advance toward the infeed120 of the cellophaner 6, their movement timed with that of the pockets161 indexed by the wrapping wheel 160.

Finally, the cellophaner 6 will perform the usual sequence of stepsinvolved in producing a sealed packet 102 of cigarettes in the samemanner as described already for the system 101 of FIG. 1.

In the first system 101 and the second system 172 alike, the step ofapplying the coupon 4 precedes the step of affixing a revenue stamp 3;nonetheless these steps might be swapped about, in accordance with thepresent invention, adopting variations in embodiment that are obviousand not illustrated for either system 101 or 172.

It is also significant that, whilst the portion 11 a of the front face11 of each packet 2 a represents a relatively small percentage of theface 11 overall, it could be printed with emblems or decoration (notillustrated) and/or messages (not illustrated) of whatever natureaddressed to the consumer.

Alternatively, in another possible embodiment (not illustrated) of thepacket 2 a shown in FIGS. 2a and 2 b, the front face 11 might be coveredcompletely by the respective coupon 4. In this instance the transversedimensions of the coupon 4 would be the same as those exhibited by thefront face 11 of the packet.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for manufacturing sealed packets ofcigarettes with revenue stamps and coupons comprising: fashioningpackets of cigarettes, in a packaging machine, each delimited by anouter surface that comprises a wrapping material; conveying the packetsof cigarettes from the packaging machine to a cellophaner with atransfer means; enveloping each packet of cigarettes in a transparentoverwrapping material and securing the material to complete the sealedpacket; and applying a respective revenue stamp and applying arespective coupon to the outer surface of each packet during the step ofconveying the packets of cigarettes from the packaging machine to thecellophaner, wherein the outer surface presents two mutually opposed andparallel main faces, the respective coupon being applied to a first ofthe two main faces and the respective revenue stamp being applied to asecond of the two main faces.
 2. A method as in claim 1, wherein theouter surface also two mutually opposed and parallel flank faces and twomutually opposed and parallel end faces.
 3. A method as in claim 1,wherein the transverse dimensions of the single coupon and thetransverse dimensions of the first main face are substantiallyidentical.
 4. A method as in claim 3 wherein the coupon is proportionedto cover the entire expanse of the first main face except for apredetermined portion of the selfsame main face.
 5. A method as in claim1, wherein the step of conveying the packets with the transfer meanscomprises the subsidiary steps of advancing the packets along a firstpredetermined path with a first conveyor means and advancing the packetsalong a second predetermined path, connected to the first path, with asecond conveyor means combining with the first conveyor means to createthe transfer means in such a way that the packets advance along thesecond path with the first main face directed toward the second conveyormeans.
 6. A method for manufacturing sealed packets of cigarettes withrevenue stamps and coupons, comprising: fashioning packets ofcigarettes, in a packaging machine, each delimited by an outer surfacethat comprises a wrapping material; conveying the packets of cigarettesfrom the packaging machine to a cellophaner with a transfer means;enveloping each packet of cigarettes in a transparent overwrappingmaterial and securing the material to complete the sealed packet; andapplying a respective revenue stamp and applying a respective coupon tothe outer surface of each packet during the step of conveying thepackets of cigarettes from the packaging machine to the cellophaner,wherein the outer surface presents two mutually opposed and parallelmain faces, two mutually opposed and parallel flank faces, and twomutually opposed and parallel end faces, and the coupon is applied to afirst of the two main faces, wherein the step of conveying the packetswith transfer means comprises the subsidiary steps of advancing thepackets along a first predetermined path with first conveyor means andadvancing the packets along a second predetermined path, connected tothe first path with a second conveyor means combining with the firstconveyor means to create the transfer means, in such a way that thepackets advance along the second path with the first main face directedtoward the second conveyor means and wherein the step of applying thecoupon comprises the subsidiary steps of feeding the coupon to thesecond conveyor means, gumming at least a part of one face of the singlecoupon destined to come into contact with the packet, and directing thepackets onto the second conveyor means with the first conveyor means insuch a way that each packet is paired with a respective coupon.
 7. Amethod for manufacturing sealed packets of cigarettes with revenuestamps and coupons, comprising: fashioning packets of cigarettes, in apackaging machine, each delimited by an outer surface that comprises awrapping material; conveying the packets of cigarettes from thepackaging machine to a cellophaner with a transfer means; envelopingeach packet of cigarettes in a transparent overwrapping material andsecuring the material to complete the sealed packet; and applying arespective revenue stamp and applying a respective coupon to the outersurface of each packet during the step of conveying the packets ofcigarettes from the packaging machine to the cellophaner, wherein theouter surface presents two mutually opposed and parallel main faces twomutually opposed and parallel flank faces, and two mutually opposed andparallel end face, and the coupon is applied to a first of the two mainfaces, wherein the step of conveying the packets with the transfer meanscomprises the subsidiary steps of advancing the packets along a firstpredetermined path with a first conveyor means and advancing the packetsalong a second predetermined path, connected to the first path, with asecond conveyor means combining with the first conveyor means to createthe transfer means, in such a way that the packets advance along thesecond path with the first main face directed toward the second conveyormeans and wherein the step of applying the coupon comprises thesubsidiary steps of diverting the packets singly and in succession fromthe second conveyor means at a pickup station located along the secondpath, advancing each packet along a third predetermined path and througha station at which the coupons are applied, in such a way as toassociate the respective coupon with the first main face, and returningeach packet to the second conveyor means at a release station locatedalong the second path with the relative coupon interposed between thefirst main face and the selfsame second conveyor means.
 8. A method asin claim 7, wherein the third path is a circular path substantiallytangential to the second path, and the release station coincides withthe pickup station.
 9. A system for manufacturing sealed packets ofcigarettes with revenue stamps and coupons, comprising; a packagingmachine on which to fashion packets of cigarettes delimited by an outersurface comprising a wrapping material, the outer surface presenting afirst and a second mutually opposed and parallel main faces; acellophaner by which a transparent overwrapping material is foldedaround each packet of cigarettes and secured in such a way as tocomplete the sealed packet; transfer means by which the packets ofcigarettes are conveyed from the packaging machine to the cellophaner; adevice by which revenue stamps are applied to the packets of cigarettes;and a device by which coupons are applied to the packets of cigarettes,wherein the device for applying the revenue stamps and the device forapplying the coupons are located along the transfer means, the devicefor applying revenue stamps applying the revenue stamps to the firstmain faces of the packets, the device for applying coupons applying thecoupons to the second main faces of the packets.
 10. A system as inclaim 9, wherein the transfer means comprises first conveyor means bywhich the packets are advanced along a first predetermined path, andsecond conveyor means by which the packets are advanced along a secondpredetermined path (A2) connected to the first path.
 11. A system formanufacturing sealed packets of cigarettes with revenue stamps andcoupons, comprising: a packaging machine on which to fashion packets ofcigarettes delimited by an outer surface comprising a wrapping material;a cellophaner by which a transparent overwrapping material is foldedaround each packet of cigarettes and secured in such a way as tocomplete the sealed packet; transfer means by which the packets ofcigarettes are conveyed from the packaging machine to the cellophaner; adevice by which revenue stamps are applied to the packets of cigarettes;and a device by which coupons are applied to the packets of cigarettes,wherein the device for applying the revenue stamps and the device forapplying the coupons are located along the transfer means, wherein thetransfer means comprises first conveyor means by which the packets areadvanced along a first predetermined path, and second conveyor means bywhich the packets are advanced along a second predetermined pathconnected to the first path and wherein the second conveyor meanscomprises a conveyor belt establishing the second path, which coincideswith a predetermined feed direction and comprises a first predeterminedascending section extending in the selfsame feed direction, and a secondpredetermined substantially horizontal section constituting acontinuation of the first section, disposed in such a way that the firstpredetermined path and the first section converge along the feeddirection.
 12. A system as in claim 11, wherein the coupons aredistributed and gummed respectively at a feed station and a gummingstation located along the first section of the second conveying path.13. A system as in claim 11, wherein the conveyor belt comprises asuccession of uniformly distributed pockets, each constructed andarranged to accommodate a respective packet, of which the bottom faceaffords a seat designed constructed and arranged to accommodate onerespective coupon.
 14. A system for manufacturing sealed packets ofcigarettes with revenue stamps and coupons, comprising: a packagingmachine on which to fashion packets of cigarettes delimited by an outersurface comprising a wrapping material; a cellophaner by which atransparent overwrapping material is folded around each packet ofcigarettes and secured in such a way as to complete the sealed packet;transfer means by which the packets of cigarettes are conveyed from thepackaging machine to the cellophaner; a device by which revenue stampsare applied to the packets of cigarettes; and a device by which couponsare applied to the packets of cigarettes, wherein the device forapplying the revenue stamps and the device for applying the coupons arelocated along the transfer means, wherein the transfer means comprisesfirst conveyor means by which the packets are advanced along a firstpredetermined path and second conveyor means by which the packets areadvanced along a second predetermined path connected to the first pathand wherein the second conveyor means comprises a conveyor belt of whicha conveying branch establishes the second path, further comprising thirdconveyor means by which the packets are diverted singly and insuccession from the second path at a pickup station located along theselfsame path, advanced along a third predetermined path and though astation at which the coupons are applied, then returned with therelative coupon to the second conveyor means at a release stationlocated along the second path.
 15. A system as in claim 14, comprisingthird conveyor means embodied as a wheel comprising a plurality ofperipheral pockets each constructed and arranged to accommodate arespective packet, wherein the third path is a circular path extendingsubstantially tangential to the second path, and the release stationcoincides with the pickup station.
 16. A system as in claim 15, whereinthe conveyor belt comprises a succession of uniformly distributedpockets each constructed and arranged to accommodate a respectivepacket, and is synchronized in operation with the wheel of the thirdconveyor means, driven continuously and timed in such a way that therespective pockets are advanced simultaneously and in succession throughthe pickup and release station.